Follow Me - Kathleen Barber

Follow Me by Kathleen Barber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book takes a look at the potentially extreme costs of an online social media influencer. Audrey has thousands of followers on Instagram, sharing every aspect of her life with them. When a new job causes her to relocate to DC, she doesn’t realize the opportunity presented to one of her more obsessive followers

Probably a 3.5 for me, rounded up to a 4. I liked it. I was definitely interested in figuring out what was actually going on, although I had my ideas. It was compulsively readable. However, there were definitely some things about the book I didn’t like as well.

I like suspense books and always have in the back of my mind wonderings about what I share online, even though that’s mainly to friends and family. So when I got an email from NetGalley about reading/reviewing this book early (thanks, NetGalley and the publisher!), I jumped on it.

The characters were just not very likable…pretty much any of them. Which means that while I loved the plot and the suspense, I didn’t really like the characters.

Also, I was still left with some questions at the end where I felt like previous details indicated something else. So I might reread it for those clues. A few questions stemming from the ending itself as well. It ended rather abruptly.

Worth the read if you like suspense.

Content Warnings: Some language and slightly open-door romance.


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Pioneer Girl (The Annotated Autobiography) - Laura Ingalls Wilder (Pamela Smith Hill - Editor)

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a long-time Little House fan. Not the show but definitely the books. Since early elementary school (I'm now in my 40's). So a long time. And I've lost track of how many times I've read the original series or how many add on books, adaptations for younger children, etc. I've written.
While it took me what felt like an eternity to read this book, it was absolutely worth it. And, as way of excuse, one of the reasons it took me so long was because the book itself is a rather large format. I couldn't just chuck it in my bag and head out, reading it in the nooks and crannies of my day.
Anyway, enough about me. Wilder wrote Pioneer Girl to be an adult book of growing up in the ever expanding western territories of the United States. It went to several agents and through multiple revisions, but was never actually published. However, Wilder pulled heavily from this memoir text to develop her iconic, historical fiction(ish) stories for children. It was so interesting to see where it all began from.
This annotated version was especially interesting because the abundant annotations added so much understanding, context, and clarification.
Now I'm just going to go back to kicking myself that I decided against the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library a few weeks ago when I was in Iowa City. I was right there on the grounds but didn't know that's where the original manuscript of Pioneer Girl is housed until I read this book.

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The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction - Meghan Cox Gurdon

The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy books about books and reading books about reading and reading aloud. So this one is right up my alley. I learned many new vocabulary words myself reading this book, like the book states the children you read to will if you read aloud to them. Some of the stats and studies weren't great as far as having incredibly small sample sets, etc. But, like a normal human, I can ignore that if I really support whatever those small studies are purporting. :)
Anyway, great book about reading aloud. Not just to children but to tweens, teens, spouses, aging adults, dogs. Basically anyone. It doesn't address reading to your plants, but I imagine that wouldn't hurt either.
Two extensive book lists in back: one of the books mentioned in the text and another of additional books. Now I just need to get more consistent on reading aloud to my little people more than just a quick picture book at bedtime.

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The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Important.
Heart-wrenching.
Thought provoking.
Absolutely worth reading.

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The Rest of the Story - Sarah Dessen

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Emma Saylor unexpectedly has to spend three weeks with her maternal grandmother and extended family, somewhere she hasn't been and people she hasn't seen since she was four. Once there, she realizes the opportunity to learn more about her mother and even herself.

Not my favorite of Sarah Dessen's novels. I actually have been waffling between 2 and 3 stars for this one. I think there were just several typos and so many contradictions in small and big things - including timelines - that each time it interrupted my enjoyment of the story itself. And those kinds of editing issues are just not something I expect in her books. Also, there were SO. MANY. CHARACTERS to keep up with. I think by the end I mostly remembered who was who and how they fit in. But the first half was tough going. The way her dad just changed so much at the end was a bit of a stretch for me.

Underage drinking was pretty consistently present but not always in a positive light.

I still liked the premise of the story and several of the characters. I just feel it could have been better executed.

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Cilka's Journey - Heather Morris

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cilka's Journey can be read as a sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz or as a stand-alone. I haven't read The Tattooist yet, although it's been on my TBR list for quite some time. So, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, I read this book as a stand-alone. There are some mentions of characters from The Tattooist, and my understanding is that the author received a lot of her information on Cilka from Lale and Gita in that book. However, I didn't feel lost or like I was missing information in any way from not having read that book.

While The Tattooist is a true story of Lale, Cilka's Journey is considered more a fictionalized history based on a real person. Cilka really did exist but had passed away by the time Heather Morris began on her story. So some of the people in this book are real life while others are compilations or even entirely fictional. The same is true for the events. From what I've read, Morris did a lot of research, though. So while the story is fictionalized, there is a lot of fact and history to learn from.

Okay, now that the background is out of the way, I am SO GLAD this book was written. Most people are familiar with the German concentration and death camps from Holocaust and WWII history. However, the role the Soviets and Russia played afterwards with their own camps (and even repurposing some of the German camps) is not as well known. So this book is important for that alone.

This books consists of Cilka's life in a Siberian prison camp, where she was sentenced to labor after the Russians "liberated" her from Auschwitz-Birkenau intermingled with flash backs to her time in the concentration camp for her Jewish heritage. What it takes for her to just survive in both environments that were created to destroy her. The camaraderie to be found with fellow prisoners and the humanity of those trying to do what they can to help others around them. Hope found in the darkest places.

It took me a bit to get into Cilka's story, but I think that had more to do with things going on in life than a flaw in the book itself. Once I was halfway in, though, I flew through the rest. The topics addressed are heavy, harsh, awful...and real. Triggers abound, but I don't believe that should dissuade someone from reading this. Did I mention it's important that we as humanity know that these things occurred and to guard against them moving forward?

So, my review is simply this: Read it. Reflect on the truths this story contains.

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The River - Peter Heller

The River by Peter Heller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jack and Will are best friends who met in college and bonded over their mutual love of literature, especially the older naturalist. They embark on an adventure canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness where things eventually deviate from the plan.

I've waffled between 3 and 4 stars on this book. I really loved some parts whereas other parts seemed to drag or get bogged down in description. And since I read the book summary/blurb, I kept waiting for one of the pivotal scenes that ended up taking its time coming. And the fact that when Jack and Will were in their thoughts, I often had a hard time telling them apart.

Once the pivotal scene occurred, the story telling really picked up the pace from it's previous meander down the river and through times past. Then I had a hard time putting it down.

I don't get the "Thriller" label it has received so many places. Adventure, yes, but I didn't find it to be a thriller.

I can see why there's been so much buzz about the book this summer. And I liked it, but it didn't wow me.

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Five Feet Apart - Rachel Lippincott

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Stella is the model CF (cystic fibrosis) patient while Will is the rebel who just wants to *live* in the days he has left. This is the story of what happens when the two meet.

I'll preface this by saying were I not reading this for book club, I would have rolled my eyes and given up a couple of chapters in. Instead, I just rolled my eyes throughout.

I'm not sure if some of my issues stem from the story meant to be a movie and the book being based on a screenplay making it weird (or the screen play and book were written at the same time - I've seen both options when I was doing some quick research on the tie-in).

My first eye roll came from Stella's senior class taking a two week trip to Cabo. What kind of school takes that kind of senior trip?!? And had Stella been healthy enough to go, how would her parents afford said trip on top of a decade of hospital stays and major medical issues?

Where were timeline discrepancies, language, and talk of sex.

The prose was fairly dreadful. Mainly due to word choices like characters with CF "sprinting" and running up stairs regularly. Really? With 35% lung capacity?

But the characters are really what earned it my one start rating. They were just flat. Basic. One-dimensional. Even their "character growth" (if you can call it that) was predictable and plastic feeling.

The whole book was just too melodramatic and over-the-top angsty for me. And I've known some melodramatic, angsty teens in my time.

And what kind of ending was that?!?

Ending on a positive, I am glad for a book shedding light on CF and its treatments. I thought those pieces (hacking mucous, weight loss, etc) were important and some of the only realistic pieces of the book, despite how the characters acted otherwise.

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Into the Wilderness (Wilderness #1) - Sara Donati

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in the 1790's, this book begins a series centering on a New York mountain village. Elizabeth Middleton returns to her father's home after being raised by here aunt in England. There she encounters a cast of characters that are set in their ways, especially as she's determined to establish a school that welcomes all. She also meets Nathaniel Bonner, a white man who lives like a Native American.

So, I'm not going to lie. I did pick up this book solely on the fact I listened to an Anne Bogel "What Should I Read Next" podcast where it comes up that some of the Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) characters make an appearance in this novel. The appearance is not in person but by mention, and definitely brief. Luckily, this book and its characters were interesting enough to hold my attention without that hook - that was towards the middle anyway.

Don't go into this expecting a book like Outlander though. Yes, it's historical fiction set in some of the same time frame. But the characters seemed more modern yet set in a historical time frame. It just didn't seem as satiated in the time period or even as accurate.

Elizabeth seemed fairly juvenile to me. I liked her, but kept thinking of her as 19 instead of a spinster of 29. The romance also seemed more lust than love and happened very quickly.

It took about 10 chapters to get into the plot, but then it seemed to pick up. I was engaged by that point though. In some places, the timeline or setting seemed to jump without any warning like a page break or a chapter change. That could have been issues with the ebook version though. There were also some inconsistencies and dropped story lines. Hoping some of those are picked up in the next book.

I will be reading book 2. If you plan to as well, do yourself a favor and don't read the summary of the book on Goodreads. I feel like it spoiled some of it before I even started.

Heads-Up: some steamy content - I skipped paragraphs here and there. I don't think there was as much as an Outlander book though.

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Ayesha at Last - Uzma Jalaluddin

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a "stay up too late reading" kind of book. Perfect for a binge.

Ayesha is a modern Muslim woman in Toronto. She works as a substitute teacher in a co-ed schoo. She wears her hijab but also more modern clothing. Her best friend isn't Muslim, and she's not a faithful attender of mosque prayers. Ayesha, meet Khalid. Khalid is conservative and fundamental. He wears his beard long as well as his robes. He looks to his mother to provide the perfect arranged marriage. But all is not as it seems in either of their lives.

So...I would say that the publishers did this book a disservice by calling it "A modern-day Muslim Pride & Prejudice." However, that is what compelled me to pick it up. So the marketing worked despite the fact there is little in common with P&P until towards the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Ayesha and Khalid. Even knowing they were going to get together in the end (not a spoiler due to the P&P connection), it was fun to watch them navigate it. I appreciated the nuance in pretty much all the characters. Except for maybe Khalid's mom. She wasn't a very nuanced villain.

Definitely worth a read, whether you're a P&P fan or not. I flew through it in less than 24 hours, despite my husband's grumblings about the light being on. :)

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The Forgotten Road (The Broken Road #2) - Richard Paul Evans

The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The second book in the Broken Road series, Charles James is continuing his walk along Route 66.

This book was more of a 1.5 stars for me. I didn't not like it, but I didn't really like it either. While Charles moved along his route, the plot didn't really move along much at all. It was more a list of towns and roadside attractions than the introspection I'm used to from Evans's books and characters. Even The Walk series, which this one is reminding me more and more of - just a different route, had a lot more character development and interaction.

I'll read the third book just because it's not a huge time commitment, but I'm hoping that one is more than the travelogue this one seemed to be. And not a very engaging travelogue at that.

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The Mother-in-Law - Sally Hepworth

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lucas and her MIL, Diana, have always had a rocky relationship. So when Diana is found dead, suspicion abounds.

This book is told primarily from Lucy & Diana's perspectives, and alternates between past and present. I liked the back story pieces. It gave such understanding and depth to some of the characters.

Worth reading if you like domestic suspense.

I gave it 3 stars, but it was really more 3.5 for me. So take that with a grain of salt.

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Everything Here Is Beautiful - Mira T. Lee

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book of lives intertwined. Sisters. Marriage. Lovers. Parents. Children. One's own self.

Lucia and Miranda Bok are Chinese American sisters who pop in and out of each other's lives. Lucia is free spirited and passionate while Miranda has always taken on the more protector, practical role. When Lucia starts hallucinating and hearing voices, Miranda tries to rescue her as she always has.

This book took many, many pages for me to get into. I think that had more to do with my brain space at the time than the book itself. I didn't become attached to any particular character but the highlight of the book for me was "watching" the ways the characters interacted. Not just their words but their internal monologues as well. I really wanted to not like Manny due to some of his choices. But even with him, you can see the reasons behind those choices because the chapters rotate through several alternating perspectives. It was well written overall. Choppy at times, but even that made sense.

Great for a book club to read together as there is a plethora of things to discuss and debate in this story.

Heads-up: language, sex

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The Broken Road (The Broken Road #1) - Richard Paul Evans

The Broken Road by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Broken Road is the beginning of Evans' newest series. In it, we meet Charles James, a wealth seminar guru who might not be as happy with life as all his money would make him appear. In the beginning of the book, James encounters two individuals that cause him to rethink how he's living his life. But to sort it all out, he has to go back to the beginning.

Richard Paul Evans has long been a gifted story teller, from his Christmas novellas to his to his The Walk series. He paints powerful, multidimensional characters and places them in a novel where the reader can move through introspection and struggles with them.

Aside from the text, the format of the books are always great. "Quotes" from the characters at the start of each chapter. Textured pages. It's the whole package.

Looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 of this series.

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The Chalk Man - CJ Tudor

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Chalk Man is told in two story lines: 2016 and 1986. The story revolves around a group of kids who were friends in the 80's and then focuses on one of those friends (Eddie) in the more present day. The book begins with a tragic accident that helps shape one of the key story lines.

The book was pretty interesting. A little too creepy at parts for me. Some of the story lines kept me guessing until they were almost revealed. Others I figured out early. Pretty much everything was revealed by the end.

Everyone in my book club liked it or loved it. For me, it's probably a 2.5. I didn't really like it, but it was better than okay.

Definitely try to read it in larger chunks. I started out reading just a few pages or a chapter at a time as that's what my schedule allowed. And I think that caused me to be a bit confused at time. Once I sat down and read the last half in a long reading block, things clicked better for me.

Head's Up: Abuse, abortion, violence that got a bit descriptive

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All Is Fair - Dee Garretson

All Is Fair by Dee Garretson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lady Mina Tretheway is wanting to do something more to help the war effort during WWI in England. She gets her wish when she receives a coded telegram summoning her from boarding school to help with a mission.

I liked the character of Mina. She was easy to root for and seemed realistic. There were parts with some of the other characters that got a bit confusing. Also, it seemed like there was a lot of ground laying, and then the book wrapped up quickly. I remember having about 20 pages left, and they weren't close to their end goal yet. And then it was all done.

Still worth the read. A nice, clean YA book. And I haven't read much about WWI. This was certainly light on the "historical" part but still some interesting tidbits.

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Not If I Save You First - Ally Carter

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maddie's father is a secret service agent and her best friend is the president's son. All seems good until there's a threat and Maddie's father relocates them to Alaska. However, trouble follows eventually.

I enjoyed the character of Maddie. She was equal parts girly and grit. And I really liked the story until towards the end. As it got closer to the end, I'm not sure if I was rushing to read and missed things. If it was because the formatting on the ebook I was reading got wonky. Or if the writing just got sloppy. But there were many things that just didn't make sense as things were supposed to be coming together instead. Without that, this probably would have been a 4 or 4.5 star book for me.

It was also a very clean book for YA, which I always appreciate. There was some violence, but it wasn't gruesome or graphic at all.

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Tolkien & C.S Lewis: The Gift of Friendship - Colin Duriez

Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of a Friendship by Colin Duriez
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

For me, this books subtitle is misleading. The majority of the book has nothing to do with the friendship of Tolkien and Lewis. In fact, the information in the books indicates they were co-workers and writing at the same time/sounding boards at times for each other but not "friends" in that they weren't really involved in each other's lives outside of the college and writing.

So much of the book had nothing to do with the interactions between Lewis and Tolkien. There was back story on a bunch of other people - including what they thought and said and wrote about L & T and their writings. There were lengthy summaries of many of L & T's works (with spoilers included if you haven't read them). There was some philosophy and theology (and not just as related to their beliefs and/or works) thrown in.

The book's structure was lacking as well. It was confusingly organized at times, despite there being dates on the chapter headings. Some places there were a ton of dates and others none at all. Even within those dates, the author jumped back and forth and all around. It had a lot of redundancies as well.

You don't even get any "friendship" information unti around Chapter 5 (page count in the 80's). That in addition to all the randomness had me skimming pages at a time. So much skimming I almost feel bad marking it as "read."

If you're looking for a wonderful book covering the friendship between these two great authors, keep looking. And then come back and comment when you've found one so I can check it out. :)

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That Churchill Woman - Stephanie Barron

That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This historical fiction novel draws on letters and other (auto)biographies to paint a fuller picture of Lady Randolph Churchill - an American by the name of Jennie Jerome.

I've honestly never thought about Winston Churchill's mother despite me interest in him as a person and politician. I certainly never realized she had such a reputation in her time. She certainly was a strong women of her time and knew how to stand on her own. Yet she also had a fiercely loyal streak. It was interesting.

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Black Elk Speaks - John G. Neihardt & Black Elk

Black Elk Speaks by Black Elk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of Black Elk as told by John G. Neihardt. It's the "as told by" that knocks my rating down from 5 stars. According to the notes in the appendix (which I was grateful for), Neihardt took quite a bit of poetic license in extrapolating what he thought Black Elk meant by what he said or felt at various times.

Black Elk lived from 1863 to 1950, although this book wraps up shortly after the Indian Wars were concluded (read: the US government and people got their way and most of the native lands). Black Elk was a medicine man and holy man of the Oglala Lakota tribe. He was cousin to Crazy Horse. This is his experience woven through the background of the greater Native experience.

Again, I'm aghast at all of this being skipped in history teaching in our schools.

This book was readable. It did have several prefaces and introductions. And oh so many appendices. Honestly, I skimmed some of those.

A valuable read for anyone.

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Unleashing Mr. Darcy - Teri Wilson

Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A modern retelling of P&P, set in the world of dog shows.

I loved the references and even quotes from P&P dropped in. The story was fun, overall. Although clearly I don't know about dog shows much. It seemed like there were the same judges for the same dogs at each show. So is it really necessary to give them such examination? I don't know.

Towards the end there was a section that got quite steamy. Which I didn't expect after having read The Accidental Beauty Queen (my introduction to Teri Wilson). There steam was alluded to but not detailed out like here. I skipped several pages. Without that, it probably would have been 3.5 stars.

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Rapid Reviews

I've read several books recently but not taken the time (or had the motivation) to write full blown reviews. So here are quick thoughts and ratings on those four books. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Probably a 2.5

DJ is a high school student whose life and plans are constantly derailed by her family and their milk farm's needs. When given the opportunity to train a rival football team's quarterback, DJ sees that there might be more to her than she's ever thought.

The book was written in an interesting fashion. Which makes sense once you realize why about halfway through.

It was a quick, easy read. Giving me a break from some other reading I've been doing. While it's not stellar (or even great) story telling, I'll probably finish the series. These books are perfect filler until I get out of this reading slump.

View all my reviews Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this book, David Grann tackles two huge topics in history. The Osage murders, also known as the "Reign of Terror," a multi-year span of murders connected to oil headrights that I have never heard of or learned about in any history class. And how the ensuing investigation ties into the beginning of the FBI in the US. Both stories were interesting.

Grann covers both topics well, but the FBI angle with much more detail - including the life of the FBI Agent, Tom White, who led the investigations into the Osage murders. However, some of the chapters at the end show how much more is known about the FBI than about the murders - the full extent of which probably still hasn't been discovered.

I was appalled - but at the same time not really surprised - by the extent those outside the Osage community (mainly white, let's be honest) went to in order to acquire control of the vast fortune the Osage people had due to the oil on their land. And the fact the US government was involved with the regulations requiring "guardians" to individual Osage to oversee their fortunes, not surprising either.

I'm so glad Grann has brought these atrocities to light. Again, I believe that our history instruction has done an injustice by not covering such things.

The book itself is super readable and interesting. Pictures interspersed throughout where a great addition.

View all my reviews The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book fell far short of the mark for me. The mark being the only other Moriarty book I've read, What Alice Forgot, which I loved.

In this story, a hypnotherapist (Ellen) gets entangled with the stalker (Saskia) of the guy she's dating (Patrick). It's probably a bad thing that I just finished reading the book two days ago and can't remember any of the main characters' names and had to look them up. Ellen also has an interesting relationship with her mother, friends, and pretty much everyone in her life. I mean, I can understand having a home office for your clients. However, wouldn't you want a separate client bathroom instead of them being able to rifle through all of your personal items at any time?

The book was predictable. The characters were unengaging. It was all just "meh."

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View all my reviews The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

More of the same from the first book. Nothing substantial or earth shattering. But a decent, quick read while watching my kids fish.

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The Accidental Beauty Queen - Teri Wilson

The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was just plain fun. Exactly what I needed.

Charlotte is an elementary school librarian with a beauty queen sister. When her sister has an allergic reaction, she begs Charlotte to take her place in the current pageant's preliminary round. Against her better judgement, Charlotte agrees. Realizations, growth, and love ensue.

I blew through this book. It was both easy and entertaining. There is a depth to some of the story points that the rest of the book doesn't let fall too heavily. And the book references were great.

Off to check out more of Teri Wilson's books...

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The Stationery Shop - Marjan Kamali

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in Iran and the US from the 1950’s to present day, this book centers upon Roya, a teenager growing up in Tehran and its political turmoil. Roya finds sanctuary and love in the neighborhood stationery shop. But, as with life, all does not go as planned for anyone. The book revolves around the themes of love, family, and fate.

This book sounded interesting to me when I read about it on NetGalley. (Thanks, NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.) I don’t know that I’ve really every read anything set in Iran and know little of its history. Besides, the title has “Stationery Shop” as its name. How could I resist that?

The book did not disappoint. I was interested in Roya and invested in her story pretty much from the start. The flow of the writing, while at a slower pace, fit the narrative. I enjoyed learning about the culture of Roya and her family, how she adjusted in moving to the United States, and the keeping of her identity there. I was also a bit sad for her throughout as I thought on her life and potential regrets. All the characters were complex; even the ones I didn’t like, I liked the way they were written.

I’m glad to have read this book and plan to check out Marjan Kamali’s backlist for more.

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Vox - Christina Dalcher

Vox by Christina Dalcher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was my book club pick for May 2019, and I think it will lend itself to some interesting discussions.
This dystopian novel is set in a United States where the women and girls have been effectively silenced. Each is allotted only 100 words a day. No female can hold jobs; girls are taught only the skills for homemaking in school. Dr. Jean McClellan can’t believe this limited existence came about so quickly, and she is determined to do what she can to make her voice heard.
I had heard amazing things about this book from many different people. The story itself was fascinating. The way the country came to be so restricted. Jean chafing against the new order but unsure how to change it. The characters representing the conservative Christians who instituted and enforced the new laws were more caricatures than the other main characters were. I’m assuming that was on purpose to create a bias.
I could have done without the romance and sex. I think it took away from the overall (and more important, in my mind) story. Also, there was so much language. It was distracting, not adding to the characters in any way. Additionally, I felt that one of the thread conclusions was just too pat, too easy for the build up it had.
Probably would have been a 3 star “I liked it book” but for the above. It does make one think, though.

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Spark of Light - Jodi Picoult

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I knew going into this book that it was going to be a difficult read for me just due to the topic. I think abortion is something people are strongly divided about. So a book tackling it faces some unique challenges.

It has two stars because, as usual, Jodi Picoult made me think. However, I really didn't feel like the writing of this book was on par with her past books. I didn't like the backwards timeline. I don't think it served any of the character's stories or the overarching themes of the book well. And there were so many inconsistencies. Perhaps that's from the timeline going backward. Or maybe it was because all of the narrators were unreliable in their own ways. Either way (or a different reason entirely), I didn't like it. I did like the portrayal of the father/daughter relationships.


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Go See the Principal: True Tales from the School Trenches - Gerry Brooks

Go See the Principal: True Tales from the School Trenches by Gerry Brooks
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

As a former middle school teacher, I do enjoy Gerry Brooks videos. I follow him on Facebook and YouTube, appreciating how each video is both relevant and humorous. So, I was super excited to learn he had written a book.
Then I read the book.
It was a disappointment. I think my overarching issue was I’m not sure who this book was directed to. One chapter (or paragraph…or sentence) would be clearly addressing teachers. Then the next would jump to parents. Or administrators. Or bus drivers. Who is the true audience, because I don’t think this book clearly reached any of them.
While there were some funny bits, there were also many incomplete thoughts and ideas. Additionally, the transcriptions of some of his videos just don’t work. You need the visuals for the humor and key points to come across. They were weird to just read.
For now, I’ll be sticking with the videos to get my Gerry Brooks fill ups.

Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

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Printed Letter Bookshop - Katherine Reay

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yes! This is Katherine Reay as I like her best. A book of friendship and love (in its various forms) and books!
Madeline inherits a bookshop from her estranged aunt, along with the loyal employees and customers. She intends to see the store turn a profit and then sell at the first opportunity. But life, of course, has other plans.
This book is told from three points of view: Madeline as well as the workers at her aunt’s shop, Claire and Judith. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and especially liked Claire’s chapters told in third person unlike the others in first person. The way the relationship between the three women developed was realistic.
I don’t think any of the side plot distracted from the main story. It developed at an even pace and kept me turning the pages.
And that book list at the back…Brilliant!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

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All But My Life: A Memoir - Gerda Weissmann Klein

All But My Life: A Memoir by Gerda Weissmann Klein


I was familiar with parts of Klein's story through a documentary I showed my 8th graders each spring when we teamed up with the social studies teacher for a unit on the Holocaust. So it was both interesting and heart breaking to read her story completely.

I am starting to have a hard time rating memoirs because while the stories are usually important, I've found they're not the best written books. And my stars are usually based on both aspects. So I'll just say this one is worth the read.

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The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers - Maxwell King

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

It pains me to give this book 1 star. I was so looking forward to reading it and am a fan of Mr. Rogers and his work. This book does not do him justice.

I was a bit put off straight from the prologue where King refers to Fred Rogers as being feminine in nature. He does this several times throughout the book in different ways. I just don't see Rogers as that way. Caring? Yes. Calm? For sure. But not feminine.

The book is poorly organized and could have used a good dose of editing. The timeline is sort of chronological but also bounces back and forth some. Dates are mentioned randomly in some parts where as other sections where a date would be helpful to the reader, there is none. SO. MANY. Redundancies. The book would have been half the length if all the unnecessary repetition of information was deleted. Some sections and details were inadequately or poorly explained. Others the author went into overdrive on details and explanations that didn't add anything to the narrative of Fred Rogers life and work.

Had this not been the book chosen for both my book clubs this month, I would have quit it before I was halfway through. In fact, if you're in my local book club I give you full permission to quit it and still come to the meeting.

I wanted to love it. It is Mr. Rogers, after all. Disappointed.

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The Memory House - Rachel Hauck

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh man. So I only received a sneak peak at the first chapter from the publisher via NetGalley. The introduction to one of the main characters seems like a major departure from Rachel Hauck's usual work...and I think I'm going to love it. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest.

As noted above, I was excited to get my hands on the complete book. So thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for supplying me with an ARC. Unfortunately, I think my expectations were set a bit too high.

Beck Holiday lost her father (and her memories of him) in the attacks of 9/11. Many years later as a NYC cop, she goes a bit off the rails and gets suspended. Her suspension coincides with learning she has inherited a home in Florida. The home intersects Beck story with the story of the woman who gave it to her, Everleigh.

I think these story lines had a lot of potential; I just didn't love how they were executed. The individual stories didn't seem well organized and several story lines were dropped throughout the pages. There were also some discrepancies, which is one of my major pet peeves in books. For example, why did Beck believe that the car she noticed was a neighbor when she clearly saw the New York plates on it. Also, Beck peered out the window and saw someone in a tailored suit, but then it was really Hunter not in a suit at all. The dog preferred the dark on one page but then the light a few pages later. Simple fixes editing should have caught.

And why was it a big deal that Everleigh was pregnant? She was married when she got pregnant.

I wanted to love it. I just didn't. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. It was just okay to me.

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Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lithuania - 1941. Lina is fifteen-years-old and living the average young girl's life with her family. Until the Soviets invade her country, her town, her home. Lina, her mother, and brother are deported. This is the story of her struggle to survive.
I have read much about World War II when it involves Germany and the camps and prisoners there. Probably due to the popularity of Anne Frank and the fact I teach Night to my 8th graders. So this was branching out for me. And it was good.
While fiction, it still opened my eyes to another area of tragedy during this time. While depressing, it was also curiously uplifting. Lina is a fighter. I enjoyed her character - the personality, the development.
The book was very well-written. Engaging, informative, and inspiring.

3/4/19 Reread for book club. My above assessment and star count remain the same.

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Return to Dignity - Marilyn Skinner

Return to Dignity: Stories of Hope, Faith, Courage and Transformation by Marilyn B. Skinner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Inspiring stories of women who's lives have been changed through Living Hope Ministries.
They were hard to read at times. Not just for some of the content; what some of these ladies when through is horrific. But the way the stories were written themselves. I don't know if that is because maybe they were told orally and then written down without much editing. But the narrative timeline in each story bounces around some, and there's repetition.

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This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm - Ted Genoways

This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm by Ted Genoways
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because there was a lot of buzz over it when the governor of Nebraska refused to endorse it as the "One Book, One Nebraska" pick for 2019. I purely wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Otherwise it wouldn't have even been on my radar.

This books is both a look at one family farm during a year as well as a look back on farming history and innovation in general. There's even brief glimpses of what the future of farming might be. I'll be the first one to say I know nothing about farming. Genoways does a good job of making the more technical aspects accessible. It was far more interesting than I had hoped for when I picked it up.

I do think (although need to research to confirm) the issue Nebraska's republican governor had with the book. There are a couple of pages in the epilogue that talk about President Trump and how he won with the votes of many farmers who are now being negatively affected by his administration's policies.

A side note, the author picture on the back cover is a bit creepy.

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Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Rachel Hollis tackles 20 lies people (particularly women) believe, some truths that can counteract them, and some tips on what helped her through the debunking in her life.

I wanted to love this book. I really did. Especially since everyone I know has loved this book. But I just didn't. I didn't love it so much that I almost abandoned it multiple times, but kept pushing through because there must be some reason everyone else is giving it 4 and 5 stars. And there was some redemption at the end when a few of the topics were deeper.

I will admit, I had some reservations going in to the book. I listen to the podcast Hollis does with her husband, Dave, and her communication style just really isn't my cup of tea. I keep listening because I can relate to Dave Hollis's approach a bit more. So that might have colored my reading as well.

I have gone back and forth between 1 and 2 stars on this review. There were a couple of nuggets I took away, but I think the things the things that grated me in reading outweighed those. The whole book comes off as a long humble-brag. Rachel Hollis has certainly accomplished a lot in her short life thus far. I don't discount that. The tone of the book was off-putting to me though.

Her story of her then boyfriend/now husband was alarming. The mistreatment she allowed herself to endure for months to keep him followed by a clear demarcation and boundary setting by telling him not to contact her again. Then hours later accepting him back into her life, jumping to their marriage. Now I'm hoping we aren't getting the full picture and there was a lot of good boundaries set and couples therapy between him showing up at her door and their marriage. But I don't really know that because it's skipped over. The book basically reads: I called and told him not to contact me again...He showed up at my door...He's my husband.

Scriptures taken out of context. Wanting a thousand dollar purse because it "represented the kind of woman I dreamed of becoming." What kind of women is that...the superficial kind who determines who women are based on a purse? Saying not to set limits to your dreams and then having several dreams of her own to accomplish before 40. It goes on.

There were some basic truths I could get on board with in some of the chapters. But the delivery wasn't for me. And the other issues in the book were just too much for me to settle on more than a star.

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Never Give Up Hope: Waging War with Cancer - Craig Davis

Never Give Up Hope: Waging War With Cancer by Craig Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The author, Craig Davis, has survived brain cancer not once but three times. This is his story.
In exchange for an ARC, I have promised my honest opinion.
The writing isn’t stellar, but Craig doesn’t claim to be a writer. And I did read an ARC; that I understand has changed drastically between the ARC and final release. So I’m assuming this has improved and that many of the jumps or parts that left me with questions have been corrected.
It is definitely heartfelt and passionate in his belief of God healing him each time. You get a little background on his life, and then Craig steps you through the high and low points of his journey from the initial diagnosis in 2012 to the most recent the summer of 2018. He focuses on God’s fingerprints throughout it all. And I love that. While you’re in the midst of trials, it’s sometimes hard to see Him moving. But hindsight…it shows his handiwork all over the place.
I love Craig’s faith and passion. The hope that he wants to pass along to others who are fighting their own battles – whether they be cancer or something else.
I enjoyed the Facebook posts that were inserted throughout the text to give an “in the moment” look at what was happening.
Definitely a book that’s worth a read. And at just over 100 pages, it’s a quick read at that.

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Green (Circle 0) - Ted Dekker

Green: The Beginning and the End by Ted Dekker
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ugh. This book. I wish I could go back and time and never read it so it wouldn't have tainted my love for the original Circle Trilogy.

I read the original trilogy a couple of years before Green was released, so I wanted to reread the other three books before reading Green. I just read all four in a row. And I have a lot to say about Green - none of it complementary. I wish I could give zero stars.

First of all, Dekker says Green completes the Circle, and you can read it at the beginning or the end. There is NO WAY you could read this book before you read Black, Red, and White. Absolutely no way. It would make no sense and be even more confusing than reading it after you've read those three.

Second, it seems like someone completely different wrote this book than the others. There is none of the vibrancy of character or engagement of plot present in this book that was there in the first three that would make a reader want to keep turning pages. In fact, I wanted to do anything *but* read more of Green. I wanted to give it up every other chapter, but my stubbornness to see the series through wouldn't let me. Seriously, I cleaned my kids' bathroom once instead of reading more of this book. That's desperate for you.

There were so many great descriptions in the other books. There were descriptions in this book. I don't know how many times I read about "light colored horses." Worse than that, so many of the descriptions were much more sultry/sensuous/sexual or violent. I was not a fan of the change. I understand that this book was about good and evil. And evil is dark. But I think that point can be expressed without being so graphic.

And vampires?!? Okay, I guess at this point I should admit that I haven't read all of the Ted Dekker's books. I think that was some of my confusion with a lot of what occurs in Green. You need to not only have read the original Circle Trilogy but also the other books (Showdown series, Lost Books, etc.) that link in and were written after Black/Red/White. Especially to understand Billy's character and story. Things are hinted at in Green. But the hints are confusing.

There were So. Many. inconsistencies. How did Thomas know Billy was connected with Ba'al? Even more so, how did he know that Janae and the priestess were connected when he'd never met her in any form? Chelise later reflects on Thomas shouting at her as he disappears, but nothing indicates he ever even saw her there. How does Janae so easily infiltrate the Eramites when such a point has been made about Eram being a smart leader and it was mentioned multiple times that the Eramites are supremely cautious of the albinos, including Samuel and his friends.

Character development: There was none.

The world building of the other books: nonexistent.

Read the original three. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

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Almost Sisters - Joshilyn Jackson

The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book club pick.
Leia is a comic book artist, and soon to be single mother, when a family crisis calls her to Alabama and the home of her grandmother. There is a lot going on in Leia’s life, but there is a heck of a lot going on (and hidden) in the life of her family. None of the “secrets” were truly secret by the time I got to them. I think the author does a good job at having the reader draw conclusions that get you there. But I can enjoy a predictable book every now and then.
I enjoyed the characters for the most part. Some of them, like Leia’s sister Rachel, I found to be kind of flat. There was another character that I had issues with but won’t get into as it would be a plot spoiler.
The author’s use of “squirt” just about sent me over the edge. People were “squirting past” other people. They were “squirting away.” I don’t know. Maybe using “squirt” in those ways is a Southern thing (although I’ve spent some time in Tennessee and Alabama and never heard it). But it was like nails on a chalkboard for me.
All said, I liked the story. I liked the relationships and the interconnection of the characters. The idea of a “Second South” was interesting to me and no doubt true.
Worth the read.

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The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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In the case of this book, third times a charm.

This book is the compelling story (after you're about 60 pages in) of the US rowing team that when to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. But it's not just a look at the team. It's a look into the Depression, Germany as they ramped up towards WWII, the individual men, as well as an in depth look into the sport of rowing itself.

As mentioned, this was my third time attempting this book. I tried to read it a few years ago and didn't get past the first couple chapters. More recently, I tried the audio version. I struggle with audio books in general; this one was no exception. So when I picked it up this third time, I determined to give it until page 65. And I'm so glad I did.

I had no idea the sport of rowing and collegiate rowing in particular was so interesting. The book did a good job of explaining most of the terms, although I did have to google "catching a crab." The personal stories of the rowers' backgrounds that was interspersed with the technical explanations and race descriptions made the whole book even more engaging.

While I appreciate and understand the insertions of what was going on in Germany at the time, I found they pulled me away from the momentum of the over all rowing story.

I'm glad I gave the book another chance. Just goes to show that sometimes it can be a good book, but it's just the wrong time for reading it.

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Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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This is the stories of two priests who head to New Mexico to take over a vicarage and oversee the diocese in the newly annexed Southwest territories.

I should have taken a crash course in Catholicism before reading it; that would have cleared up some of the fuzzies for me. I kept forgetting the hierarchy, googling things like what a "breviary" is, etc. I also kept getting confused on who Valliant was because sometimes he was referred to by his last name and other times as "Father Joseph." There also wasn't a real flow. The text was divided into books with chapters inside those books. And the books were more like individual essays than a coherent storytelling.

But despite my own occasional confusion, I liked the book. I liked the dichotomy of personality between Latour and Valliant. They definitely complemented each other in their team work. And I loved the descriptions. Having lived and traveled in the Southwest, there were places I recognized by description (love when that happens in my reading).

It also checks off a reading goal to read one Cather book each year we live in Nebraska (or until I run out of books and stories).

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I Owe You One - Sophie Kinsella

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Kinsella’s books seem to be hit or miss for me. I didn’t love this one. But it wasn’t a complete miss either.
Fixie Farr doesn’t have her nickname “Fixie” for nothing. Between her “Family first” motto and needing to fix everything she comes across from crooked vases to the lives and relationships of others, Fixie has no time for herself. A chance meeting at a coffee shop leads to a game of IOU’s passing back and forth between her and the handsome (no longer) stranger.
I usually enjoy her “train wreck” main characters; but in this one, Fixie was bit too oblivious for me. I loved her heart and wanting to keep the family and shop together. Her desire to help out everyone in her circle. But, geez, take the blinders off. You’re totally being used.
The way she throws herself, heart and soul and body, into relationships is a bit frightening and unstable as well. Despite that, I did like her as a character.
I hated most other characters, including Seb and his stupidity. But I think I was supposed to.
Some language and sex. Which, again, some of her books seem heavier on than others. This one leaned toward heavier, in my opinion.
The book was an interesting premise. But a little to over the top of me right now. Perhaps I would have loved it at another time. But for now, I would say I’m split between “just okay” and “liked it.” So 2.5 stars from me.

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The Girls at 17 Swann Street - Yara Zgheib

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is powerful.
Anna Roux was a ballet dancer who is injured and then follows her husband from Paris to St. Louis. Thrown amidst unfamiliar surroundings, loneliness, and feelings of no purpose, depression and anorexia get a hold of her. This is the story of how the disease snuck up on her and her journey through treatment at 17 Swann Street.
Anna and the other girls at Swann Street are written so beautifully and poignantly. As I was reading, I could envision them as real people with real struggles – food-oriented and otherwise. The way Anna relates to the other women in the house. The reflection into her past and attempt to rebuild relationships. Her relationship with Matthias is complicated and heartbreaking and hopeful.
Her struggles. Triumphs. Setbacks. I cried. I cheered. I felt.
I did get a little lost at times in conversations as far as who was speaking as there were no quotation marks or clear breaks at times. But the story and characters superseded any of those issues. It all seemed very well researched or experienced as well.
I think this is an important book for people to read to humanize the very real disease of eating disorders.

Trigger Warning: It goes without saying (I hope) but this book centers around anorexia, bulimia, and unhealthy food relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.


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The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another classic I haven’t read. And I definitely want to do this as a read aloud/audio book experience with my kiddos.
I switched between reading (not this edition but an old one with great color pictures I’ve owned forever) and listening to the audio. It definitely lends itself to listening.
I wasn’t so sure about reading a story about rodents. Especially the rat. I thought it was more about moles and toads. Which I guess technically a mole is a rodent. But not a rat. Rats and mice are the worst. Anyway, I digress. Let’s talk about Toad. He is so over the top. I could picture him in all of his boasting and self-importance.
Glad to have read it. Placing it now in the “to read to my kids” pile.

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Dumplin' - Julie Murphy

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I saw an ad for the movie on Netflix; and, of course, had to read the book before I'll allow myself to watch it.
Willowdean is the daughter of a former pageant winner and now coordinator. It has shaped her in ways she doesn't realize. As has her aunt's life, Dolly Parton, her best friend, and her weight.
I really liked the character of Willowdean. She was flawed and authentic and fierce. She's real.
I think because of the movie preview, I thought the book would be more pageant-centric. And it's really not. Willowdean doesn't even sign up for the pageant until about halfway through the book. And then it just pops in and out some until the end. The book itself is more about relationships. With yourself and what you want. With your dreams. With friends and family.
Didn't like the swearing (which seemed to come in random spurts) and teen sex (although not in detail definitely a character's key plot).
3.5 stars from me.
I'm not sure I'll read the sequel. I didn't know there was one until I logged this one as read on Goodreads and was looking for more books by the author. I liked how Dumplin' ends. It was satisfying. I don't necessarily feel the need for a more.
I am, however, off to watch the movie...

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Flint - Louis L'Amour

Flint by Louis L'Amour
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Flint grew up in the west but headed east as soon as he could, making a name for himself in the world of finance. Life happens, and he decides to return to the west. Flint almost immediately finds himself tangled up in a range war on the side of local rancher, Nancy Kerrigan.

I grew up visiting my grandparents each summer in Western Kansas. And I recall Louis L'Amour books my grandpa read on the built in shelf between recliners in the living room. While I read many books from those shelves over the years, I never picked up one by L'Amour. Then I had a college boyfriend who wasn't much of a reader but would rave about L'Amour. Still, I never read one. So when friends mentioned L'Amour again recently at a social gathering, I finally asked which one I should start with. They were split between Flint and another title I don't recall. Flint was available at my library, so I read it.

And enjoyed it.

Which I didn't really expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I'm not a Western movie watcher. I do like historical fiction but haven't really ever read a gun-slinging Western, to my remembrance. This was good. Predictable at times, for sure. But I was fully engaged in the story and Flint. It was interesting. I'll read more.

As a side note, I was completely distracted by the character "Nancy Kerrigan's" name, despite acknowledging the fact this was written far before the famous figure skater was born.

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